Thurrock

Thurrock's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 160,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Thurrock increased by 10%, from about 143,000 to 158,000.

The addition of just under 15,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Thurrock was home to, on average, 6.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Thurrock

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Thurrock increased by one year, from 35 to 36 years.

This suburban area had a lower average age than Eastof England and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 5,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 100.

About 15% of people in Thurrock are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Thurrock by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Thurrock

Thurrock saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 18 (5.5%) in Thurrock reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.2% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

Across the region, only Welwyn Hatfield saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 7.3% to 6.4%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Thurrock

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Thurrock at a faster rate than across Eastof England.

In Thurrock, the proportion of single people increased from 29% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 27% to 31%.

Across Eastof England, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Thurrock fell from 52% to 48%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Thurrock saw Eastof England's second-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) households in Thurrock had no children, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 32% to 35%.

Across the region, only St Albans saw a greater fall in the proportion of households without children (from 61% to 58%).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Thurrock residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 5.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of Thurrock residents that were self-employed increased from 7.1% to 8.9%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England. As a result, this area had the region’s third highest proportion of unemployed people.

Great Yarmouth had Eastof England's highest proportion of unemployed people (6.1%), while Luton had the region's second highest proportion (5.7%).

The rate of unemployment in Thurrock increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Thurrock, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Thurrock

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Thurrock.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Thurrock that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 110,000 in 2001 to just under 100,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 9,300 to about 9,900. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 6.5% to 6.3%.

Just under 3,200 people (1.1%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,500 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population without a religion in Thurrock increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Thurrock by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Thurrock at a faster rate than in Havering (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Thurrock).

In Thurrock, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.5% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Havering increased from 5.5% to 11%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Thurrock fell from 20% to 18%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 66%.

Private renting in Thurrock increased by 7.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Thurrock, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Thurrock

In 2011, 86% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 95% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Thurrock.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Thurrock from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 1,700 in 2001 to just over 12,000 in 2011 (from 1.2% to 7.8%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 3,400 to just over 5,900 (from 2.4% to 3.8%).

About 3,100 people (0.9%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just over 1,300 in 2001 (2.0%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Thurrock decreased by 9.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Thurrock by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Thurrock working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Thurrock decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Thurrock, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Thurrock residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.8% to 4.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Thurrock residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Thurrock decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Thurrock, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of one-person households fell in Thurrock, while rising in Dartford (one of the most statistically similar areas to Thurrock based on ONS area classifications).

In Thurrock, the proportion came down from 27% in 2001 to 26% in 2011, while across England it went up from 28% to 29%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 28%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Thurrock increased from 11% to 12%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 39% to 36%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Thurrock residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Thurrock remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Thurrock by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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